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Tawan Wattuya:
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Venue: nca | nichido contemporary art
Date: 11/30 (Sat.) 2024 - 1/18 (Sat.) 2025
gallery hours: Tue. – Sat. 11:00 – 19:00 （Closed on Mon., Sun., and National Holiday）
＊Winter holiday: 12/28 (Sat.) – 1/7 (Tue.) 2025.
Opening reception: 11/30 (Sat.) 17:00 ～ 19:00 | Artist in attendance
nca | nichido contemporary art is pleased to present TRANSFORM, the new solo show by Thai artist Tawan Wattuya.
Whether representing animals or human portraits, Tawan Wattuya (b. 1973, Bangkok, Thailand; currently lives in Bangkok)’s watercolor drawings have come to be known for their unique style and allusive nature. The frequent journeys abroad have consciously and objectively sharpened Wattuya’s perception of his own country, urging him to try to understand both sides as he continues to investigate the socio-economic conditions of our times.
"Transform" is an art exhibition that takes viewers on a journey into the realm of metamorphosis, exploring the complexities of identity and the relationship between humanity, nature, and technology. The works presented in this exhibition depict hybrid creatures—half-human, half-animal—that represent the limitless merging of identities. This exhibition was previously showcased in La Rochelle, France, at the beginning of 2024, and received overwhelming acclaim for its bold artistic approach and philosophical inquiry into the essence of human nature.
Using the fluid, transparent qualities of watercolor, the artist captures images that appear soft, transient, and shaped by imagination, reflecting the ever-evolving nature of human identity. The hybrid forms, blending human and animal traits, hint at the inseparable connection between nature and selfhood, suggesting that human identity can be boundlessly transformed. This fusion also reveals an awakening of "primal instincts," a fundamental part of human nature that technology cannot entirely override.
In an era where technology plays a crucial role in defining identity and shaping lifestyles, this exhibition invites viewers to re-examine the intricate relationship between the civilization we have constructed and the primal instincts embedded within the human spirit. The depictions of animalistic features—such as faces, heads, and claws—merged with human forms remind us that instincts are essential survival mechanisms that drive us to adapt. The ambiguity of identity in these artworks suggests that humans remain intrinsically connected to these primal drives, despite attempts to separate ourselves from nature through technological advancements.
"Transform" goes beyond challenging artistic boundaries; it invites viewers to reconsider their identities and instincts through a profound lens. These instincts connect us to our ancestors and propel us into the future, serving as the force that drives creativity and development, while also reminding us that we cannot entirely dissociate from nature.
"Transform" urges us to embrace boundless transformation and recognize the power of primal instincts that underpin our existence. This exhibition challenges us to open ourselves to the fusion between the civilization we create and the nature that fundamentally defines us. Ultimately, "Transform" is a reflection of humanity’s state of adaptation amid constant change—emotionally, spiritually, and creatively—reminding us of the profound and complex links between humanity, nature, and technology.
b. 1973, Bangkok, Thailand; currently lives in Bangkok.
B.F.A. in Painting, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Main solo shows: ”Transforme”, Centre Intermondes, La Rochelle, France (2024) / “Haunted”, Xspace Gallery Main Hall, Bangkok, Thailand (2022) / PEEP SHOW ARCADE, gallery SFA PROJECTS, New York, U.S. (2022) / Art Centre Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand (2021) / SUNY ONEONTA University, Oneonta, U.S. (2019) / “Queen”, nca | nichido contemporary art, Tokyo, Japan (2019) / “A Multitude of Possibilities”, Hatch Art Project Gallery, Singapore (2019) / Main group show: Bangkok Biennale, Bangkok, Thailand (2020) / “On the Frontline of Contemporary Art: from the Taguchi Art Collection”, Shimoseki City Art Museum, Shomoseki, Japan (2020) / “NO FRONTIERS – What happens in Bangkok does not stay in Bangkok”, galerie arnaud Lebecq, Paris, France (2020) and many more.
Tawan Wattuya is the recipient of the SILPATORN AWARD 2023 in Visual Arts (2023).
